Jesus told his disciples before he went to the cross that they would do greater things than he did. You see some of that in this passage where handkerchiefs and aprons that Paul had touched were taken to the sick and they were healed, while those who were demon-possessed were set free.
But apparently, there were some men (who were sons of a priest) who fancied themselves as exorcists and attempted to use the name of Jesus “whom Paul preaches,” to cast out demons. But the demon replied, “Jesus, I know and Paul too. But who are you? The demon-possessed man then beat and utterly humiliated them.
What can we get from this? When it comes to God, a second-hand relationship means nothing. It doesn’t matter if everyone in your family is a Christian. It doesn’t matter if you go to church and hang around Christians. If you don’t have a first-hand relationship with God, you have nothing. Satan and his demons certainly won’t recognize you as God’s child, but even more importantly, neither will God.
When you appear before him on judgment day, you can say, “Don’t you know me? I went to church every Sunday. My dad and mom knew you. So did all my friends. But God will say, “I know your parents, and I know your friends, but who are you?” And you will be separated from him for all eternity.
How about you? Do you have a true relationship with God? Do you truly know him? Or do you only have a second hand-relationship with him?
